Brazil: Preparing communities to be prepared
In addition to helping address communities' immediate needs following May's flooding, Plan Brazil is also helping meet longer-term needs such as disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
PHOTO: Plan staff
PHOTO: Plan staff
July 29, 2009
Over 4,000 families in Brazil continue to receive support from Plan
This past May, over 900,000 Brazilians were affected by the worst flooding seen in almost a century. Families lost homes, property, crops and livestock. One of the worst hit areas was the state of Maranhao, one of the poorest regions in the country and an area where Plan works.
When more than just emergency aid is needed
In addition to providing immediate emergency assistance (such as shelter, food and medicines) to those affected, our team at Plan Brazil has worked continuously over the past two months to address the ongoing and longer-term needs of families — many of which are still homeless:
Helping communities prepare for the future
Workshops and trainings will focus on improving the capacity of community leaders to identify risks as well as to better prepare communities for potential emergencies. Plan has also signed a contract with a specialist to begin training the new Agents of Civil Defense and Citizenship in São Luís beginning next month.
According to information from Plan’s Health Technician, Suelma Kzam, “We will train the members of the communities that were hit directly or indirectly by the rains this year. The people shall know what to do in calamity situations, just in case it might become necessary in the coming years.”
Célia Bonilha, the Program Unit Manager of São Luis, also added that “We are uniting forces with associations and other community-based entities to require from the government concrete measures to solve the problems of the affected areas and families that live within.”
Help provide immediate relief to children and families affected by disasters.
Learn more about Plan's work in Brazil.
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This past May, over 900,000 Brazilians were affected by the worst flooding seen in almost a century. Families lost homes, property, crops and livestock. One of the worst hit areas was the state of Maranhao, one of the poorest regions in the country and an area where Plan works.
When more than just emergency aid is needed
In addition to providing immediate emergency assistance (such as shelter, food and medicines) to those affected, our team at Plan Brazil has worked continuously over the past two months to address the ongoing and longer-term needs of families — many of which are still homeless:
- Families continue to receive cookers, food, and water filters and are receiving hygiene and nutrition training;
- Children are being provided with school material kits;
- Children, youth and adults are participating in workshops that provide psychosocial support;
- And communities are receiving training in community disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
Helping communities prepare for the future
Workshops and trainings will focus on improving the capacity of community leaders to identify risks as well as to better prepare communities for potential emergencies. Plan has also signed a contract with a specialist to begin training the new Agents of Civil Defense and Citizenship in São Luís beginning next month.
According to information from Plan’s Health Technician, Suelma Kzam, “We will train the members of the communities that were hit directly or indirectly by the rains this year. The people shall know what to do in calamity situations, just in case it might become necessary in the coming years.”
Célia Bonilha, the Program Unit Manager of São Luis, also added that “We are uniting forces with associations and other community-based entities to require from the government concrete measures to solve the problems of the affected areas and families that live within.”
Help provide immediate relief to children and families affected by disasters.
Learn more about Plan's work in Brazil.
Back to top
